Somerset County Government: Somerset County Department Of Health Recognizes National Preparedness Month In September

Press release from the Somerset County Government:

09/29/2021 3:24 PM

SOMERVILLE, NJ – In recognition of National Preparedness Month, the Somerset County Department of Health (SCDOH), encourages residents to prepare for emergencies well in advance. This year’s theme for National Preparedness Month is “Prepare to protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.” “Prepare to protect” means pre-planning for natural disasters and public health emergencies well in advance by establishing a family communication plan and ensuring that the family’s emergency supply kit is easily accessible and is well-stocked with new, working, necessary and non-expired items. 

Hurricane Ida and the COVID-19 pandemic have reinforced the idea that pre-planning is crucial for everyone’s safety. According to emergency preparedness experts, communication plans should include evacuation procedures and the locations of shelters. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that emergency supply kits should contain face coverings, soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses, and to protect family members when congregate sheltering is necessary.  

Other Tips for Emergency Preparedness

Communication Plans
All family members must understand the communication plan (including young children), and the plan should be adapted according to various emergency scenarios, including:

• Communication plans for sheltering at home
• Evacuation routes in the home
• Evacuation plans to shelter at neighbors or local shelters
• Locations of local shelters
• Evacuation routes on roads

Emergency Supply Kit
Ensure the family’s emergency supply kit is easily accessible and includes the following items:

• Three-day supply of food and water
• Personal care items
• Bars of soap or liquid soaps, hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, and disinfecting wipes
• Safety supplies such as electronics, flashlight, batteries, candles, flares
• Medication
• Important documents
• Face masks, at least two per person for any household member who is age two or above

Stay Informed

• Sign up for local emergency alerts
• Tune into reliable news sources

Emergency Resources for Individuals with Special Needs
NJ Register Ready is a valuable resource for individuals with special needs and persons with disabilities. When residents sign up for the registry local emergency responders will be alerted to the health and safety needs of the residents enrolled in the program. To register, call 2-1-1 or visit https://bit.ly/RegisterReady2021.

Other Emergency Resources
For information about emergency preparedness, visit Ready.gov at www.ready.gov, the New Jersey Department of Health at www.state.nj.us/health/er , or the Somerset County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program at https://bit.ly/SCPubHealthEmergency.

The Somerset County Department of Health
The Somerset County Department of Health (SCDOH) is responsible for coordinating public health responses during emergencies. The Somerset County Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Team plans, trains, and coordinates emergency preparation for public and private sector agencies to protect the health of the community during natural or man-made emergencies.

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This press release was produced by the Somerset County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.